“And you have strange notions of your duty to your stepson.”
“Will you tell me when Ben left the house and what route he took?”
“I can’t answer either question.”
“I’ll find out in spite of you and bring him back,” said Jacob angrily. “Did you give him any money to go away with?”
“I am not likely to have much money to give to any one. However I gave him two dollars.”
“So you connived at his escape? You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Mrs. W.”
“My conscience is clear. I will only say that had you treated Ben as he had a right to expect, he would not have left the house.”
“Perhaps, Mrs. W., you will favor me with your idea of how he ought to have been treated,” said Mr. Winter, with what he thought to be withering sarcasm.
“I will. You should have let him go to the high school.”